In 2022, the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO), Gujarat, achieved a significant milestone by performing the highest number of renal transplants from deceased donors in the state. There were 388 kidney transplants performed, of which 159 were retrieved from deceased donors, representing 41% of the total transplants. This was far more than the previous years’ performance where the proportion of kidney transplants from deceased donors remained within the range of 8% to 19% from 2012 to 2015.

Dr Vivek Kute, Secretary, Indian society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT), said that as far as Gujarat was concerned, 41% of transplants from cadavers was the highest ever recorded. "The need of the hour is to improve awareness of kidney diseases and transplantation. The rise in cadaver donations will reduce the huge gap between demand and supply," he added.

Dr Prakash Darji, a nephrologist and transplant physician from Ahmedabad, credited the greater availability of ventilators due to COVID-19 pandemic for the increase in cadaver donations and the eventual availability of kidneys for transplantation.

While talking about restoring transplants to their pre-pandemic level at Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital in Nadiad, Dr Ajay Gangoli said, “There has been a transplant volume increase, but we don't have adequate data to ascertain if kidney failure has also increased”.